NEW YORK – A decorated career is nearing its end for Chesapeake native David Wright. At a special press conference Thursday, the longtime Mets third baseman announced he will return to the major leagues after a two-and-a-half year absence to start the Mets’ penultimate game of the season.
David Wright of the New York Mets. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Wright, drafted by the Mets in 2001, has been battling a spinal stenosis the past few years, factored in with shoulder, neck, and back surgeries. While Wright and Mets COO Jeff Wilpon used the words “retirement”, they instead indicated that he won’t be able to play past September.
“Physically and the way I feel right now, and from everything that the doctors have told me, there’s not going to be any improvement,” Wright said. “So yeah, I don’t see [playing beyond September] as a possibility.”
A Hickory High graduate, the Mets third baseman has been limited to just 75 games the past three seasons due to neck, shoulder and back surgeries. Wright has not played in a Major League game since May 27, 2016.
Earlier this year, Wright admitted he’s on “an uphill climb” to return to the diamond.
In 13 seasons, Wright has 242 career home runs and 970 career runs batted in. Wright played in just 38 games in 2015 and only 37 in ’16. According to Spotrac, the Mets owe him $47 million from 2018 to 2020. He is the Mets’ all-time leader in hits, doubles, walks, runs scored and RBIs.
The season-ending series against the Marlins will start September 25th, and he will be activated for all four games.
